Sean Lock, the English comedian whose dry, deadpan quips were highlights of comedy show 8 Out of 10 Cats, is being remembered as as a "giantly funny" man after dying of cancer.
He was 58.
Lock frequently appeared on British television panel shows including Big Fat Quiz, QI and Have I Got News For You, in addition to regularly performing stand-up comedy.
But he was best known for captaining a team on 8 Out of 10 Cats.
Asked in one episode what he would like his obituary to say, Lock quipped: "I don't care, I'll be dead."
"You can't write tears."
Lock's agent reflected on his creativity and humour after his death.
"Sean was one of Britain's finest comedians, his boundless creativity, lightning wit and the absurdist brilliance of his work, marked him out as a unique voice in British comedy," the statement said.
"Sean was also a cherished husband and father to three children."
Ricky Gervais and Jimmy Carr among stars paying tribute to Lock
Tributes for Lock came from co-stars and celebrities, including Cats host Jimmy Carr as well as Ricky Gervais, Dawn French, Bill Bailey, Jon Richardson and Suzie Dent.
Carr, who worked with Lock on 8 Out Of 10 Cats for 18 series, took to Twitter to share his grief.
"I loved him," he wrote. "I'm watching clips of him right now — laughing and crying."
Lock's rival team captain on the show, Jon Richardson, described Lock as having "an incredible comic brain".
Bailey wrote: "He was a true original, a wonderful comic."
Aussie comedian and host of The Last Leg Adam Hills wrote: "A brilliant comedian and a lovely man. RIP Sean Lock."
Vicar of Dibley star French said: "Oh. Sean Lock. A giantly funny and utterly lovely man. Will be massively missed."
Writer, actor and comedian Steven Merchant said: "I first saw Sean Lock live at a Bristol comedy club in the mid 90s and remember laughing so hard my stomach actually ached. RIP to an hilarious man taken far too soon."
